St. Paul daily globe., 1887-06-17
CONFEDERATE FLAGS.
They Will Not be Returned to the
Southern States.
An Explanation of the Presidents
Recent Course.


dent has written letter to the secre-
tary of war withdrawing his instruc-
tiOns to return the rebel flags captured
by the Union forces during the war.
The following statement with regard to
the presidents action concerning the
proposed return of the battle flags was
given to representative Of the Ass0ci-
ated Press:
When the returning was proposed to
the president by the adjutant general
an important feature suggested was the
return to the loyal states of
the flags which had been captured
by the COnfederates and re-taken
by our army at the time of the collapse
OF the Rebellion. They, with such Con-
federate flags as had been captured
from the enemy by our troops, had, it
was represented, for long time lain
uncared for and neglected, packed
away in boxes in the cellar of the war
the attics, better place for their safe
keeping. The disposition of the flags,
which seemed to be answering no good
purpose where they were, was the main
point, and this consideration was
presented to the president that
some flags had been returned
to loyal states upon their
request in individual cases, and the
rest might as well all be returned to-
gether. The return of the Confederate
flags was suggested, but there was not
the slightest thoughtof interfering in any
way with the captured flags now held
by any state. The fact was apparently
received with favor by the country.
Lately, in one or more cases, Northern
troops visiting their late antagonists at
the South had returned flags which
had been captured in battle
from those whose hospitalities they
were receiving. The further fact that
Northern troops, who within a short
time had been visiting Southern battle
fields, had spoken in the warmeSt terms
of the kind and hospitable treatment they
had received from former cOnfederateS,
and the fact, too, that soldiers from the
North and South were just gathering at
Washington to meet in friendly compe-
titiOn at the national drill seemed to in
dicate that if the Union flags were
returned to the loyal states which lost
them i'll battle it would not be
inconsistent with these fraternal senti-
mentS which seemed to be prevalent to
offer at the same time to the governors
of the states formerly in rebellion re-
turn of the flags which we had taken
from their soldiers. The right of the
department to make these returns being
questioned by the president, such right
was distinctly asserted and precedentS
alleged, and thereupon his oral as
sent was given to the proposed action.
The matter was dismissed from his mind
till comment thereon within the last
day Or two brought it again to his at
tentl0n, when upon personally eXamin-
ing the law, and considering the subject
more carefully, he satisfied himself that
no disposition of these flags could be
made without congressional action,
whereOn he directed suspension of
operations by the letter made public
this evening.
FEELING AT NEW YORK.
Special to the Globe.
NEW YORK, June 16-Grand Army
men are fairly boiling over with indig
nation to-day over the reported decision
OF the president to restore to the South
ern states the flags captured in the war.
AT hotels and in the offices of Grand
Army journelS and elsewhere wherever
members of the order met it was the
topic of talk, and again and again were
quoted the words of COmmander-in-
Chief Fairchild at the reception in As
sociation hall last night: MAY God
palsy the hand that wrote it, may God
palsy the brain that conceived it and
may God palsy the tongue that DICTATED
it," Gen. Lucuis Fa rchild had a long
talk with Gen. William T. Sherman this
morning at the Fifth Avenue hotel. 1t
is understood that Gen. Sherman ap-
proves of Gen. Fairchild's speech last
evening. Gen. Fairchild, however, de-
clined to say what the nature of it was.
When questioned about his speech last
night on the return of the Confederate
flags he said, 81 have
NEVER MIXED POLITICS
in my duties as cOmmander-in-chief of
the G; A. r. and have hitherto re,
Trained from saying anything that would
stir up sectional feelings. Last night 1
deemed it my duty to express myself,
and | did. Those flags were captured
in battle and given to the war depart
ment for safe keeping. l do not believe
the governors of the once Confederate
states will receive them, or if they do,
they will send them back. How can
they float these flags, as they repre-
sent no government in. eXiStence?"
District Attorney Mark d. Wilbur, G.
A. r. man and Democrat. whose integ-
rity is unimpeachable, said: ~ read the
and was amused yet surprised
that a man of the caliber of Fairchild
should use the words may God palsy
the hand that wrote the ORDER do
not think that
SUCH A PRAYER AS THAT
is warranted. Nothing but treason should
call forth such prayer. However
wrong President Cleveland may be, and
do not admit that he is wrong, such
as Fairchild used are totally
for and disgrace to any man
who will utter them. Iregret that any
issue should come up that subjects our
president to unkind criticism in regard
to political issue On this point. l think
that such outside issues should be avoided
as far as possible, if not in an entirety,
for they only cause strife between the
best of friends and in the end destroy
only those from whom they emanatt.
L listened to Fairchild when he spoke
here Tuesday night, and think he has
a boom of some kind in an embryo state
and is trying to make capital out of this
matter with Grand Army men,"
A GENERAL KICK.
Dispatches to the GLOBE from points
all along the way between San Fran
cisco and Boston tell of G. A. r. meet |
ings to protest against the return of the !
flags. As that point had already been |
settled by the president their action |
came too late.
Ordered to Washington.
WASHINGTON, June 16.-An order has |
been issued from the war department |
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